Our Children's Centre | The Aldgate School

City Child and Family Centre @ The Aldgate School

The City Child and Family Centre combines the Children’s Centre provision for the City of London with the Nursery and Reception classes of The Aldgate School. The Child & Family Centre provides full and part time day care for children aged between 12 weeks and 3 years (up to the time children will start in the Nursery class of the school). We are open 48 weeks a year from 7.45am to 5.45pm.

We provide a range of support services and activities for families. These are available from pregnancy until the child is in their Reception class at primary school. To find out more about us, why not arrange a tour of our Centre or have a chat with our family support worker, Georgina.

We are working in conjunction with the City of London on their developing communication in the under 5s project (COLTALE). A number of activities and suggestions to support your child's developing communication skills can be found on their X / Twitter feed and Facebook page:

You can find key documents about the Children's Centre and the Early Years on the Key Information pages of our website.

The Children's Centre Cervices in the City of London are undergoing change over the coming months. Please see the FAQ to find out more.

What's on at the Children's Centre?

If you would like to find out more about any of our sessions, our staff are available to speak to via email or over the phone and would be happy to make an appointment to meet you in person.

If you are unable to get in to our centre and would like suggestions for activities you can carry out with your child, take a look at the videos below, visit our YouTube page (The Aldgate School) or have a chat with one of our staff for suggestions.

Quality Childcare

We offer excellent quality childcare for children aged from 3 months old to eleven years as part of our Children's Centre, School and Wraparound provision. If you are interested in arranging childcare for your child, please get in touch with Claire- our Admissions, Attendance and Welfare assistant- who will be happy to help.

If you have a child aged between 2 and 4 years old, you may be eligible for 15 free hours of childcare per week, however you may also be eligible to claim 30 hours of free childcare per week.

Half-Term Holidays

We offer childcare during holiday times, please contact the office for a booking form, if you wish to reserve a place for your child. This service is also available for children up to the end of Year 6 who attend other settings during term time.

Healthy Start Vitamins

The Healthy Start vitamins programme for City and Hackney residents is available to: pregnant women, new mums and children up to 4 years.

Information and registration form

Toy Library

We offer a Toy Library service for our Children's Centre and Early Years. Play is an essential part of every child's life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood as well as social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.

The Toy Library offers access to a wide range of quality toys, puzzles, musical instruments, dressing up clothes and story props. If you would like to use this service, please speak with one of our Children's Centre team.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Our safeguarding policy is available on the Key Information pages of our website. If you have a safeguarding concern, pop in or call us and ask to speak to Miss Allan or the Duty Safeguarding Lead.

Family Services, Advice and Information

Are you looking for a playgroup? Do you want to meet other parents? Do you want somewhere to go with your children? Do you want a friendly place to drop in for advice or support? Then The Sp@ce is the place for you.

The Sp@ce offers lots of activities including, baby clinics, parenting advice, story telling, baby massage, dental health advice, outside play and trips to parks and museums. Keep in touch with us to find out what's going on.

Children's Centre Timetable

Baby Massage Courses

Baby massage courses are now on offer at the City Child and Family Centre.
Each course lasts 5 sessions. Call us to book your place on the next course.

Community Psychologist Service (available online or in person)

If you would like to make an appointment with our Family Lives practitioner, Gill, she has appointments available on Tuesdays. Please book your session by calling or e mailing the school.

More information can be found about Family Lives and their services by visiting:

Twitter / X: @FamilyLives

Website: www.family.lives.org.uk

Are you looking to develop your skills?

We work together with the City of London to provide family and adult education. Classes run Monday to Saturday between 9am and 1pm as well as twilight sessions on Mondays and Fridays. Adult classes include IT training, ESOL, conversation, yoga and craft. There are also family art and family cooking sessions.

Everyone in the school community (parents, carers, grandparents, close family friends) is welcome to attend. The classes are free but some materials may need to be purchased. For sessions offered here in the school, we often provide a crèche, free of charge, through the Children's Centre so just ask.

Questions, Concerns and Information

We always want to hear your views about the quality of provision at the Child and Family Centre. Please contact the Headteacher or Children's Centre Services Manager if you wish to make a complaint or you have some feedback for us.

From time to time we may have handouts or suggestions of ways to support your child. See below to access them. If there is a resource you would like but can't find, let one of our staff team know!

Exploratory Play 0-6 months

Oral Hygiene

Oral Hygiene 2

Activity Ideas for Developing Children's Communication

Speech Development Leaflet

Which Speech Sounds Develop When

Window safety

Button battery safety

Button battery safety (Bengali version)

Fire safety

Nappy sack safety

City of London Family Information Service

Information about local events and services available to children, young people and families living and working in and around the Square Mile can be found at the link below.